Disney Loses $319M Appeal Against 'Who Wants to Be A Millionaire' Creators

A federal appeals judge has denied the Walt Disney Company's motion to reverse a $269 million judgment against the company, Variety reports.

Legal teams for Disney affiliates ABC, Buena Vista Television, and Valleycrest Productions sought to appeal a 2010 verdict that awarded $319 million to the creators of the TV game show "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire."

In that ruling, "Millionaire," on behalf of its parent company Celador, argued that Disney companies set up various underhand arrangement and did not accurately report profits, robbing Celador of hundreds of millions in expected revenues.

Disney appealed the 2010 verdict, finding fault with the amount of the damages, the way the jury was instructed, and the manner in which evidence was introduced.

A three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, however, disagreed, ruling that there was no evidentiary or instructional fault and that the distributed damages were appropriate.

Disney, the court ruled, would not receive a new trial. The company could still ask for a new hearing or appeal to the Supreme Court, according to Variety.